The U.S. added 22,000 jobs in August, with unemployment rising slightly to 4.3%, in the latest sign of a slowing economy. The numbers, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, have taken on new scrutiny after President Donald Trump fired the head of the agency following July’s lackluster jobs report, even as economists warned that the move was a step toward politicizing the statistics gathering of the federal government. The latest jobs figures were lower than a number of economists expected. As is typical, th ...

Media moguls and frequent business collaborators John Malone and Barry Diller spent part of Thursday’s panel session at the Paley Center for Media recalling the one that got away: Paramount Pictures. During a luncheon session that also featured Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and former Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries, Malone touched on a lot of the material in his new book. Born to Be Wired: Lessons from a Lifetime Transforming Television, Wiring America for the Internet, and Growing Formula One, Di ...

Warner Bros. Discovery is the latest legacy media company to challenge the use of its content in generative AI, filing suit against Midjourney, claiming that the company is engaged in the “theft” of its intellectual property. With the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Thursday, WBD is joining The Walt Disney Co. and NBCUniversal in challenging Midjourney’s use of their content. WBD’s attorneys wrote in the lawsuit, “Midjourney thinks it is above the law. It sells a commercial subscrip ...

Nexstar, the CW owner and giant broadcaster that’s angling to get even bigger, said it’s made a home in local media because that’s a lucrative place to be.   “Everybody’s focused on networks and streaming and top down and national media. The local media space, which has been ignored, is one we’ve chosen to build a dominant position in, and it’s that last mile connection with both the viewer and the advertiser that I say is the least sexy, most sticky part of the media ecosystem,” Sook told investors at the ...

With Comcast on track to spin off Versant by year end, CFO Jason Armstrong said more details of the standalone linear network company are coming soon and the new entity will enter the world solid and with “lots of options.” Comcast and all traditional media companies faced a choice amid cable’s inexorable decline as subscribers dwindle but the business still throws off cash. “Either they are cash generating and permanently in support of the existing growth businesses, or they are separable,” Armstrong posi ...

Truth Social parent Trump Media & Technology Group has partnered with a SPAC called Yorkville Acquisition Corp. and Crypto.com to launch Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, a digital asset treasury company focused on the cryptocurrency CRO. The deal calls for Trump Media to purchase about $105 million in CRO – the token of the Cronos ecosystem – repping about 2% of the total CRO market cap as of announcement, for its balance sheet. Crypto.com will purchase $50 million in shares of common stock in Trump Media. ...

This is the first price hike for Apple TV+ since a previous $3 increase in October of 2023. Apple TV+ is hiking the monthly price of its service to $12.99 from $9.99 effective today for new customers. Existing subscribers will be topped off in their next renewal. The streamer, home to original series The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses and Severance – the latter recently nabbing an impressive 23 Emmy nominations — is the only major service to eschew an advertising- supported option. Its annual rate of ...

Core Insights - Starz reported total revenue of $319.7 million in Q2, slightly below Wall Street expectations due to declines in subscriber levels on linear TV and streaming [1] - The company, which became independent from Lionsgate earlier this year, is projecting growth in both subscribers and revenue over the next two quarters [2] - Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) reached $33.4 million, meeting Street forecasts [2] Subscriber Metrics - Starz has over two-thirds of its subscriber base in streaming, ending Q2 with 12.2 million streaming customers in the U.S., a decline of 120,000 from the prior quarter [3] - Total U.S. subscribers (linear and streaming combined) reached 17.6 million, down 410,000 [3] - North American subscriber count was 19.1 million, reflecting a quarter-to-quarter decline of 520,000 [3] Financial Performance - The company reported net losses of $42.5 million, equating to a loss of $2.54 per share [4] - Starz had total net debt of $573.5 million at the end of the quarter, with a leverage ratio of 3.2 times trailing 12-month adjusted OIBDA [6] Content and Future Outlook - The main new series released in Q2 was "Power Book III: Raising Kanaan," with the current quarter seeing strong performance from the "Outlander" spinoff "Blood of My Blood" [5] - Executives expect growth in both subscribers and revenue in Q3 and Q4, although no specific projections were provided [5] - CEO Jeffrey Hirsch highlighted significant progress towards financial and operational objectives since becoming a standalone public company [6] Stock Performance - Starz shares have nearly doubled since the company's May IPO, reaching a high of $21 before drifting down closer to $15 in recent trading sessions [7]

Watch on Deadline Mario Gabelli, the longtime fund manager who has made noise over the past two years about the terms of the Paramount-Skydance merger, has sued former Paramount controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. Gabelli, chairman of New York-based Gamco, filed suit against Redstone and National Amusements, the company that held the controlling stake in Paramount shares, in Delaware Chancery Court on Wednesday. He is seeking class-action status for the complaint. Along with other shareholders, Gabelli ...

Core Insights - Funko has appointed Josh Simon as the new CEO, who has a strong background in entertainment and consumer products, previously working at Netflix, Disney, and Nike [1][5] - Simon's experience includes overseeing global merchandise and live experiences at Netflix, where he managed products for major titles and launched the company's first e-commerce platform [2][4] - Funko aims to leverage Simon's expertise to maximize growth opportunities and expand its business in the pop culture sector [5] Company Overview - Funko is a company focused on fandom and pop culture, with a diverse portfolio that includes brands like Funko, Loungefly, and Mondo, covering vinyl figures, collectibles, fashion accessories, and more [1] - The company is looking to build on its existing fan base and enhance its connection with lifestyle brands [5] Leadership Transition - Josh Simon succeeds interim CEO Mike Lunsford and will also join the board of Funko [4] - Funko's chairman, Charles Denson, expressed confidence in Simon's leadership abilities and his potential to drive the company's growth [5]